DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 30:
WORD OF WISDOM
On a positive note.. The Return of Christ has NOT been canceled. He's still
coming!
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DAILY DEVOTION
Wasted Years
"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and
Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as
fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore
be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not
drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:14-18
Someone once observed that a wasted life is really nothing more than a
collection of wasted days. As God gives us life, each one of us starts the
new year with the same number of opportunities-365-that we can choose to
either use and invest in eternal things or allow to drift by without taking
advantage of the gift we have been given. The difference between those who
succeed and those who fail is not found primarily in talent but in diligence
and effort.
Each day is precious, and it represents an opportunity that will never come
again. Instead of allowing time to pass without effort and productivity, we
are to redeem it-to make the most of it. Benjamin Franklin said, "Dost thou
love life? Then do not squander time, for time is the stuff life is made
of." The time of the past year cannot be recaptured, but the pages of the
coming year are still blank and waiting for us to write on them.
Because we are living in days when evil is growing, it is more important
than ever that we be aware and attentive to what is happening around us. The
will of God for each of us in this new year is that we be filled with and
controlled by His Spirit so that we can accomplish the work which He has
prepared for us to do. Commit yourself to using your time wisely, and you
will have a productive year.
Be alert to the opportunities for service and ministry and growth that cross
your path-they may not come again.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Revelation 12-18 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon
12 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with
the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then
being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon
having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail
drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the
dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her
Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all
nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His
throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place
prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred
and sixty days.
Satan Thrown Out of Heaven
7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the
dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they [a]did not prevail,
nor was a place found for [b]them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great
dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who
deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast
out with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength,
and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the
accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has
been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the
word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12
Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the
inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you,
having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."
The Woman Persecuted
13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted
the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two
wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place,
where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the
presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth
like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by
the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth
and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17
And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the
rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the
testimony of Jesus [c]Christ.
The Beast from the Sea
13 Then [d]I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out
of the sea, having [e]seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten
crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was
like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like
the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great
authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded,
and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the
beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and
they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to
make war with him?"
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was
given authority to [f]continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his
mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and
those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the
saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every
[g]tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him,
whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from
the foundation of the world.
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall
go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the
sword. Here is the [h]patience and the faith of the saints.
The Beast from the Earth
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns
like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority
of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell
in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He
performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on
the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives [i]those who dwell on the
earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast,
telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was
wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to
the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and
cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16
He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to
receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one
may buy or sell except one who has [j]the mark or the name of the beast, or
the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the
beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
The Lamb and the 144,000
14 Then I looked, and behold, [k]a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him
one hundred and forty-four thousand, [l]having His Father's name written on
their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many
waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of
harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the
throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could
learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed
from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for
they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
These were [m]redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the
Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no [n]deceit, for they are without
fault [o]before the throne of God.
The Proclamations of Three Angels
6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth-to every
nation, tribe, tongue, and people- 7 saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and
give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him
who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."
8 And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon[p] is fallen, is fallen, that
great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath
of her fornication."
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone
worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or
on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God,
which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall
be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and
in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends
forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast
and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."
12 Here is the [q]patience of the saints; here[r] are those who keep the
commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying [s]to me, "Write: 'Blessed are
the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' "
"Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their
works follow them."
Reaping the Earth's Harvest
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like
the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp
sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud
voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the
time has come [t]for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16
So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth
was reaped.
Reaping the Grapes of Wrath
17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also
having a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and
he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in
your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her
grapes are fully ripe." 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and
gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the
wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood
came out of the winepress, up to the horses' bridles, for one thousand six
hundred [u]furlongs.
Prelude to the Bowl Judgments
15 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels
having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.
2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who
have the victory over the beast, over his image and [v]over his mark and
over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of
God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the
Lamb, saying:
"Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the [w]saints!
4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested."
5 After these things I looked, and [x]behold, the [y]temple of the
tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. 6 And out of the [z]temple
came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright
linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. 7 Then one of the
four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of
the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. 8 The temple was filled with
smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter
the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
The Seven Bowls
16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go
and pour out the [aa]bowls of the wrath of God on the earth."
First Bowl: Loathsome Sores
2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a [ab]foul
and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those
who worshiped his image.
Second Bowl: The Sea Turns to Blood
3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood
as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.
Third Bowl: The Waters Turn to Blood
4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of
water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying:
"You are righteous, [ac]O Lord,
The One who is and who [ad]was and who is to be,
Because You have judged these things.
6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
And You have given them blood to drink.
[ae]For it is their just due."
7 And I heard [af]another from the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God
Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments."
Fourth Bowl: Men Are Scorched
8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given
to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and
they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they
did not repent and give Him glory.
Fifth Bowl: Darkness and Pain
10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and
his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because
of the pain. 11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and
their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.
Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up
12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates,
and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might
be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the
mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of
the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs,
which go out to the kings [ag]of the earth and of the whole world, to gather
them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his
garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame."
16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew,
[ah]Armageddon.
Seventh Bowl: The Earth Utterly Shaken
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice
came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18
And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great
earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men
were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and
the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God,
to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then
every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail
from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men
blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was
exceedingly great.
The Scarlet Woman and the Scarlet Beast
17 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with
me, saying [ai]to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great
harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed
fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine
of her fornication."
3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman
sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having
seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet,
and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a
golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of [aj]her fornication. 5
And on her forehead a name was written:
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS
OF THE EARTH.
6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of
the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
The Meaning of the Woman and the Beast
7 But the angel said to me, "Why did you marvel? I will tell you the
[ak]mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the
seven heads and the ten horns. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and
will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to [al]perdition. And those who
dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of
Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and
is not, and [am]yet is.
9 "Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on
which the woman sits. 10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one
is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a
short time. 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth,
and is of the seven, and is going to [an]perdition.
12 "The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom
as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13
These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the
beast. 14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome
them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him
are called, chosen, and faithful."
15 Then he said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are
peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which you
[ao]saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and
naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into
their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their
kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman
whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth."
The Fall of Babylon the Great
18 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having
great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2 And he
cried [ap]mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen,
is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every
foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the
nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of
the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the
earth have become rich through the [aq]abundance of her luxury."
4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people,
lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her
sins [ar]have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6
Render to her just as she rendered [as]to you, and repay her double
according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her.
7 In the measure that she glorified herself and lived [at]luxuriously, in
the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, 'I
sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.' 8 Therefore her
plagues will come in one day-death and mourning and famine. And she will be
utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who [au]judges her.
The World Mourns Babylon's Fall
9 "The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously
with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her
burning, 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas,
alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your
judgment has come.'
11 "And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one
buys their merchandise anymore: 12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious
stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of
citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most
precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense,
fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle
and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. 14 The fruit
that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are
rich and splendid have [av]gone from you, and you shall find them no more at
all. 15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at
a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and saying,
'Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and
scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 For in one
hour such great riches [aw]came to nothing.' Every shipmaster, all who
travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a
distance 18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying,
'What is like this great city?'
19 "They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and
saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea
became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she [ax]is made desolate.'
20 "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you [ay]holy apostles and prophets, for
God has avenged you on her!"
Finality of Babylon's Fall
21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it
into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be
thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. 22 The sound of harpists,
musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No
craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a
millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. 23 The light of a lamp shall
not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be
heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth,
for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. 24 And in her was found
the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth."
